yo ROYAL GARDENS 



numerous to mention. Thousands of bulbs are planted in the 

 grass, which, flowering with the primroses and other wild 

 flowers beneath the beautiful trees and shrubs in the spring, 

 form a delightful nature study. 



To add to the interest of this garden, His late Majesty 

 King Edward VII. and H.M. Queen Alexandra each planted 

 a Pinus insignis in 1906. And Their Majesties the King and 

 Queen of Spain both planted a Cupressus Lawsoniana Fraseri 

 in the same year. 



In the summer, the scarlet Corn Poppies, Epilobium 

 angustifolium, iEnothera Lamarckiana, Heracleum giganteum, 

 Fuchsia riccartonii, &c., and the ever-changing colour of the 

 foliage of the trees and shrubs, make the Swiss Cottage and 

 its surroundings one of the most charming portions of the 

 Osborne estate. 



OSBORNE COTTAGE 



The royal entrance to Osborne is at the north-west corner 

 of the estate, and just beyond the royal gateway are the 

 grounds of Albert and Osborne Cottages. When the late King 

 Edward VII. gave Osborne to the nation as a convalescent home 

 for officers in the Navy and Army, several acres between the 

 royal avenue and the public road from East Cowes were re- 

 served and added to the property of H.R.H. Princess Henry 

 of Battenberg, Governor of the Isle of Wight. Albert 

 Cottage stands on the site of two former houses, Kent Lodge 

 and York House. The former was taken down, and the 

 latter enlarged and its name changed, in 1868. Osborne 

 Cottage was built in 1856, and is connected with Albert 

 Cottage by a long covered passage. This corridor, running 

 approximately north and south, divides the garden, and being 

 well clothed throughout its entire length with many climbing 

 plants, acts as a most beautiful and interesting background for 

 flower-beds on both sides. The western part of the garden is 

 long and narrow, and is mainly given up to an exceedingly 



